3 sisters without parents after husband and wife die in murder-suicide in SW Houston on Christmas

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Three children are without their parents after a husband and wife were found dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide in southwest Houston on Christmas Day, according to police.

The shooting happened inside a home on Grasilla Drive near South Post Oak and Highway 90 shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday.

Officers with the Houston Police Department said when they arrived at the home, one of their children, a 14-year-old girl, met them outside and told them what happened.

At that point, police went inside the house and found both of the children's parents dead in an upstairs bedroom. Investigators believe the 43-year-old husband shot his 34-year-old wife multiple times before turning the gun on himself.

The three sisters, who police say are 6, 9, and 14 years old, were physically unharmed.

Now, authorities are trying to determine the best path forward for them.

"We do have family members on scene, who they'll probably be released to for the evening until something more permanent is available," Lt. J.P. Horelica said.

Investigators said they recovered what they believe is the murder weapon.

They are continuing to process evidence carefully, but at this time, HPD said they have no reason to believe there is any threat to the public.

According to HPD, the wife filed a police report in person on Dec. 14.

She told officers she and her husband were in the middle of a divorce, and she was worried he was somehow following her movements. But HPD said she had no evidence of how he was tracking her.

They said she was sent home with a packet of domestic violence resources, but the case was never assigned.

When ABC13 asked HPD why no one ever followed up with the victim after she made that report on Dec. 14, they said she never indicated her husband was a threat or that she felt like he would hurt her or the kids. They said she simply wanted to report it so it was on record.

If you need help getting out of a domestic violence situation, call the Houston Area Women's Center 24/7 hotline at 713-528-2121 or call AVDA at 713-224-9911. You can also click here to chat with an advocate online. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need help, call 713-528-3625.